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| [PHOTO: Pete Souza] |
Washington: Voters returned President Obama to office in yesterday's
election, but there is no evidence that he has received a mandate from the
American people to implement a massive amnesty for illegal aliens, according to
the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
The President's electoral victory was clearly aided by
Latino voters in key battleground states. However, extensive polling indicates
that support for the President among Latino voters was predicated on their
belief that he was the candidate better suited to deal with jobs, the economy,
education, and other bread and butter issues. Contrary to claims by advocacy
groups, concerns about immigration policy rank far down the list of policy
priorities for Latino voters.
"The American people have given President Obama a
second administration, but they have done so in spite of his refusal to enforce
many immigration laws and his support for mass amnesty for illegal
aliens," commented Dan Stein, President of FAIR. "It will be up to
the new Congress to hold the President accountable and to work with him to
implement policies that protect the interests of the American people."
According to FAIR, by returning a Republican majority in the House, it is clear
that voters are seeking bipartisan consensus to deal with critical issues. On
immigration, American voters have sent a message that they want Congress to "rein-in the President's excessive and unconstitutional exercise" of executive
power. In a statement issued to the press, FAIR asserted, "Congress must reassert control over immigration policy and require the President to execute the laws as written, not as he would like them to be
written."
"President Obama promised that he would work on
immigration reform during the first year of his new administration. Instead of
another protracted and fruitless struggle over amnesty as the centerpiece of
immigration legislation, he and Congress must enact and implement policies
where there is strong public consensus," continued Stein.
"This election has been about jobs and the economy. The
first item of immigration business must be passage and implementation of
legislation requiring every employer to use the E-Verify system to make sure
that American jobs are filled by legal U.S. workers. Doing so would help all
Americans who are seeking jobs or an opportunity to move up the ladder. But,
perhaps no group stands to gain more from enforcement of laws against illegal
immigration and a more rational approach to legal immigration than struggling
Latino families," Stein concluded.